Tobacco Farm Life Museum to host Green Book exhibit, virtual program

KENLY, N.C. (WTVD) -- The Tobacco Farm Life Museum will host a traveling exhibit and virtual program marking the 90th anniversary of the Negro Motorist Green Book.

The museum, part of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, will welcome the N.C. African American Heritage Commission's exhibit, "Navigating Jim Crow: The Green Book and Oasis Spaces in North Carolina," on July 23 from 12-1:30 p.m.

The exhibit explores African American travel during the Jim Crow era through personal stories and historic sites across North Carolina.

Published from 1936 to 1966, the Negro Motorist Green Book served as a travel guide and tool of resistance, helping African Americans navigate racial discrimination. The guide listed more than 300 North Carolina businesses, including restaurants, hotels, tourist homes, nightclubs and beauty salons.

The exhibit highlights the network of businesses and community spaces that provided safe havens for Black travelers throughout the state.

"Embarking on a road trip is a common experience for most Americans, but it holds different memories for many travelers," Museum Site Manager Sarah Morrell said. "It's important to share those stories, and this exhibit and program help us do that."

The eight-panel exhibit features historic and present-day images of North Carolina Green Book sites, along with stories from African American travelers and descendants of Green Book business owners.

The virtual program will feature Dr. Gretchen Sorin, author of "Driving While Black: African American Travel and the Road to Civil Rights," and co-writer of the documentary "Driving While Black: Race, Space, and Mobility."

The program is free, but registration is required.

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